Dickey Cox, July 12, 1939 – March 20, 2015

by ProRodeo.com | Mar 23, 2015

Dickey Cox, a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifying bull rider, passed away Friday in El Campo, Texas. He was 75.

Cox qualified for the NFR in 1963-64, ’68 and ’70. His best season in the Rodeo Cowboys Association, a precursor to the PRCA, was in 1963 when he was the reserve world champion behind gold buckle winner Bill Kornell.

Cox’s other best finishes came in 1964 (sixth), 1968 (13th) and 1970 (ninth).

ProRodeo Hall of Fame bull rider Gary Leffew, who won the world championship in 1970, was an admirer of Cox. The cowboys traveled together for much of their careers.

“He could ride rank bulls, and his dry sense of humor kept me constantly laughing and made rodeoing about as fun as life could get,” Leffew said. “He was special, and as good a friend as I ever had.”

Cox was born July 12, 1939, and grew up near McKinney, Texas. He began riding bulls at age 14; fellow bull rider and neighbor R.C. Bayles was Cox’s early mentor and teacher.

Cox later became owner of a meat processing plant.

He was married to wife, Judy, for 57 years and they had two children: a son, Kenneth Lee Cox, of Fremont, Neb., and a daughter, Carola Jean Foltyn, of El Campo, Texas.

Cox’s grandson, bull rider Clayton Foltyn, has twice qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (2005 and 2011).

A funeral service is scheduled at 2 p.m. March 25 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel in Allen, Texas. Interment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen. The family will receive friends during a visitation from 6-8 p.m. March 24 at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to Houston Hospice (houstonhospice.org) or Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame (texascowboyhalloffame.org).

Courtesy of PRCA